Circuses Lesson 3. Should all wild animals in circuses be banned? Image sourced from Pixaby.com (creative commons) Circuses Lesson 3. Should all wild animals in circuses be banned? Learning oibjectives To understand the arguments for and against banning wild animals in circuses. To form an opinion. To write a persuasive letter.

What do these countries have in common? France Germany Answer: They have no type of ban, or commitment to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

Are wild animals banned in circuses in the British Isles? England The government says it will be banned by Jan 2020 Republic of Ireland Banned in Jan 2018 Wales The Welsh government is planning a ban and is consulting on this decision Scotland (As of November 2018) Banned in Dec 2017 Northern Ireland No date set for a ban

Which EU countries have banned wild animals in circuses? Why do you think some countries have not yet banned the use of wild animals in circuses? (As of November 2018) Not all countries have the same laws on using wild animals in circuses. There are currently two circuses in England which are licensed to use a total of 19 wild animals. The government has stated its intention ban wild animals in travelling circuses in England by 2020. However, in the European Union (EU) a wide range of wild animals are still being used to perform. These include lions, tigers, elephants, bears, giraffe, hippopotamus and rhinoceros.

The arguments for and against With your partner, try and think of three reasons for and against the use of wild animals in circuses. Sort the cards into two piles; for and against. Now rank each pile from the strongest argument to the weakest. Challenge: Who might argue for and against? Think about different groups and what their interests might be.

Carousel You are now going to move around the classroom in a small group. Each group has a different colour to write with. You have five minutes at each station to write your thoughts about each statement. Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Why? Why not?

Statements As the circus tours the country, many thousands of people will get to see wild animals. These people may never see them otherwise. It is amazing to see all the tricks that the circus trainers can get the animals to do. The animals do not enjoy doing tricks; they are forced to do them. If they don't do them right, they might be punished. Circus animals only spend a few hours a day out of their cages. They can become depressed in confinement and they sometimes even harm themselves. Animals are transported from location to location in cramped conditions. This can be very stressful for them.

“All countries should ban the use of wild animals in circuses” Class vote Class vote “All countries should ban the use of wild animals in circuses”

Taking the issue further…. People often write persuasive letters to politicians when they want something to change. Over the last few lessons you have looked at the issues and arguments for and against using wild animals in circuses. Write a letter to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to persuade the government to ban the use of wild animals in circuses in England, following the ban in Scotland.

Taking the issue further…. Power of three Emphasis Rhetorical questions Say again Undermine opposing views Anecdote Direct address Emotive language

What can you do? Tell people about what you have learnt today. Share on Facebook, Share on twitter Pledge not to visit a circus this year Tell us if you see captive exploitation Respect all animals, large or small Join Wild Crew – Born Free’s kids club https://www.bornfree.org.uk/kids- club Fundraising - There are lots of ways for you to get involved and fundraise for Born Free. With our help, it’s so easy to Go Wild with Born Free and raise funds! Hold your own Go Wild event or activity – big or small -  and every single penny you raise will help Born Free care for animals. https://www.bornfree.org.uk/fundraising